Sportsmetrics/ACL Injury Prevention
Facts:
- ACL injuries are 2-10 times more likely in female athletes than male athletes
- 1 in 100 high school and 1 in 10 collegiate female athletes will sustain a serious knee ligament injury annually. 70% of these will be non-contact injuries and are more prevalent in sports that involve cutting, jumping, twisting/turning, and pivoting such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis
- There are approximately 250,000-300,000 Anterior Cruciate Ligament tears in the U.S. per year, costing billions of health care dollars and involving long rehabilitation efforts.
Sportsmetrics was created under the direction of internationally-renowned orthopaedic sports medicine surgean, Frank R. Noyes, MD, and is the first ACL injury prevention program scientifically proven to decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female athletes. It was designed as a 3 days/week, 6 week program involving a Warm Up, Plyometric and Jump Training, Strength Training, and Flexibility. The Plyometric and Jump Training portion progresses through 3 phases from technique development to performance enhancement to ensure proper neuromuscular retraining. A Speed & Agility component can be added to the Strength Training portion of the program to further challenge the athletes and improve sport performance.
Who would benefit?
Although the Sportsmetrics program was originally developed to address the alarming incidence of non-contact, serious knee injuries that were occuring in young female athletes, the program has been shown to benefit male and female athletes of all levels. In addition to reducing the risk of ACL injuries in young female athletes, it has been shown to
- increase core, upper body, and lower body strength.
- improve balance and neuromuscular stability in the knee, and eliminate incorrect muscular activation patterns that may predispose an individual to knee injuries.
- improve jump dynamics and technique and reduce landing forces.
- improve Vertical Jump Height by 10%.
- develop awareness of body positions and improve safety in movement patterns for individuals in any sport.
Sportsmetrics can be tailored to address the sport or specific needs of the individual, and is conducted by a Physical Therapist who is Sportsmetrics certified. It is most effective when performed just prior to the start of the season. It can also be implemented as a return-to-play program for athletes who have undergone an ACL repair and subsequent rehabilitation. This is very important as some studies have shown a 15-20% re-injury rate for athletes who have had an ACL reconstruction, with females more likely to injure the opposite knee as well. This 6 week program will ensure that the athlete is properly trained in jumping mechanics and movement patterns, and has the proper neuromuscular control to safely return to their sport and reduce the risk of injury or re-injury.